Combination weather strip and sash balance



Nov. 24,1959 2,913,781

COMBINATION WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Filed Feb. 17,, 1956 Z. CZUBACHOWSKI 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 .w ll l Aw w mwm m P 3 z no t fl m I mvv v 8 A z Attohuey Nov. 24, 1959 2. czuaAcHowsKl 2,913,731

COMBINATION WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Filed Feb. 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l6 6: w c1 l8 C9 I INVENTOR. Z77MUNt czvbAahowski v ACIZQA a Nov. 24, 1959 v z CZUBACHOWSKI 2,913,731

COMBINATION WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Fi l ed Feb. 17. 19 56 v s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. Zy7MuN'Z'; CzubAc'howa ki BY 90M. A try- 1 AZtoANEy United States Patent COMBINATION WEATHER STRIP AND SASl-l BALANCE Zygmunt Czubachowski, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Caldwell Manufacturing (10., a corporation of New York Application February 17, 1956, SerialNo. 566,125

5 Claims. '(CI. 20-52) The present invention relates to a Weather strip and sash balance in combination, and in particular to means for exerting lifting power for the movement of a sash with respect to the wiudow'casing, and to position the sash member in a window casing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved weather strip and adjustable sash balance in combination, for obtaining the counteraction of the weight of a sash with respect to the window casing easily, without binding the sash member in the weather strip.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel sash balance whereby the adjustability of the position of the sash with respect to the window casing is easily obdevice whereby the weathertight connection between thev window casing and the sash slidably mounted therein, is obtained and assured.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a weather strip construction for window casings having a slidably mounted sash balance wherein readily recovering counterbalancing means are provided which are adjustable to counterbalance sashes of various weights and lengths, using the counterbalancing spring having suitable means for adjusting the tension as well as the length of the spring.

Another object of this novel device is to provide a sash balance for counterbalancing the weight of a sash which may be used in coordination with a spiral type sash balance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a weather strip that will easily adjust to the measurement of the sash and hold it closely in contact with the weather strip assuring a weathertight connection.

Further objects relating to the details and construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention will appear from the description to follow.

In accordance with the present invention, a weather strip and sash balance in combination for the sliding sashes of window casings, comprise a weather strip formed from aluminum, or other such suitable material, having track portions for the receiving of the sides of the sashes, a parting strip, housing channels, tracks, and means for securing the top portion of the weather .strip to the jamb of a window casing, and a spring, a serrated flat rod connected to a bracket arm which is secured to the bottom of the sash, means for connecting the top of the spring in operative position with respect to the tracks and housing channels of the weather strip-and the sashes, and a slotted washer hav ng an off center hole for connecting the lower end of the spring to the slotted washer for adjusting the length and tension of the spring by "ice means of the indents or serrations in the flat rod. The weather strip is placed in position with respect to the jamb of the window casing and retains the sash balance in an operative position with respect to the sashes. The weather strip, and its bowed forming, assures a weathertight sealing of the sashes as the sash balance holds the slidable sashes in any position, in an upward or downward movement. The length, and therefore, the tension of the spring is adjustable, thus allowing the use of this type sash balance with various weights andlengths of sashes. I

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevated view in section, with parts broken away, of a preferred embodiment of the invention in an operative position, illustrated as attached to a sash of the slidable type.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the slotted washer means used in connection with the serrated flat rod for adjusting the tension and the length of the spring.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the position of the spring and its attachment to the jamb with respect to the weather strip used therewith.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view, elevated, illustrating the construction and position of the means used for the operation of the sash balance.

Figure 5 is another elevated View illustrating the side of the flat serrated rod used with respect to the slotted washer connected to an end of the spring.

Figure 6 is a preferred form of the present invention in perspective, in an operative position in a window casing.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure l, the vertically extending weather strip, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 30, is mounted on the jamb 5 or pulley stile of a window frame, at the top portion, as will later be more fully explained. The window sashes 7 are of a conventional construction and consist of an outer sash and an inner sash, having grooves 38 in the side of the sash members 7. The weather strip 30 comprises an elongated body formed from aluminum, or other such suitable material, having flanges 31 bent inwardly yielding pressure on the sashes 7 placed in the vertically spaced track portions 32 and 33 formed in the body 30. A parting strip 34 is formed in the center of the body 30, between track portions 32 and 33. The parting strip 34 and the track portions 32 and 33 are so shaped so as to assert pressure against the sashes 7 slidably mounted therein between the parting strip and the inwardly bent flanges 31, and to assure a free lateral movement of the sashes 7 in such a way so as to prevent any rattling or binding of the sashes 7 placed therein.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the curvature imparted to the track portions 32 and 33, the sides of the parting strip 34 forming the inner walls of the track portions designated by the numeral 60 and the side walls 61, and the parting strip 34, engages the edges of the sash 7 and renders the weather strip 30 normally in bow-like form in cross section so that when the same is secured in position to the jamb 5, the sash 7 is held securely and weathertight with respect to the jamb 5 by spring-like tension due to the yielding pressure exerted on the sashes by the form of the weather strip 30.

A U-shaped housing channel 35, running vertically in the center of the track portions 32 and 34 and extending from the top for a determined length of the portions 32, and 33 to the bottom, is formed from the body 30 in each sash receiving portion, with a chamber 36 to receive the spring 21. This U-shaped housing channel extends outwardly into the grooves 38 of the sashes 7, the distance from the top of the jamb 5 to a portion of the track portions 32 and 33. At this point on the weather strip 30, where the housing channel 35 ends, a raised flange arrangement formed from the body 30 forms a second pair of vertical tracks 37, running the remaining distance of the length of the weather strip 30, to the bottom, so that the spring 21, when fully extended, may ride in said vertical guideway formed by the housing channels 35, and the second tracks 37. The channels and flanges also form a guideway for the sashes.

Located at the top portion of the housing channels 35, about one-fourth of an inch from the top edge, are screw holes 42 which receive drive screws 41. In this manner, the weather strip 30 is secured to the jamb 5 at the top of the window casing only, and therefore is free and floats at the bottom, thus forming a tight seal with the sash 7. The drive screws 41 placed in the holes 42, also anchor the spring 21 by means of the loop 22, through which the drive screws 41 are driven.

The sash balance, represented as a whole by the reference numeral 8, comprises a spring 21 fastened at the top of the housing channel and a bracket arm 3 which is secured to the bottom of the rail 4 of the sash 7, as illustrated in Figure 1, by suitable means, such as screws entered in the corresponding screw holes 11 located in the bracket arm 3. A flat adjustment rod 13, having a series of indents 12, is fastened to the sash by being connected to the extension 14 of the bracket arm 3 by suitablemeans such as illustrated in Figure 6. An extension 26 of the flat rod 13 is pivotally mounted on a pin 15 entering the extension 14 of the bracket arm 3, connecting the fiat rod 13 to the bracket arm 3.

Located above the base 28 of the flat rod 13 is a movable washer 16 having a slot 17 and off-center hole 18, as illustrated in the enlarged view in Figure 2. The slot 17 is sufliciently larger in perimeter than that of the fiat rod 13 to freely allow the passage of the serrated flat rod 13 in an up or down movement. A counter balance spring 21, which encircles the flat rod 13 is connected to the slotted washer 16 by means of the bent end 20 of the counter balance spring 21, passing through the hole 18 in the slotted washer 16. This is similar to a hook arrangement, attaching the spring 21 to the slotted washer 16 securely. The opposite end of the spring 21 is shaped into a loop 22 for the securing of the spring 21 by means of a screw 41 entered through the screw hole 40 located in the upper portion of the channel housing 35. The spring extends downwardly through the housing channel.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the serrated flat rod 13 has indents 12 or grooves which engage one edge of the perimeter 40 of the slot 17 located in the washer 16, so that through the expansion of the spring 21 the slotted washer 16 is securely caught in one of the indents 12 and held at an inclined position with respect to the flat rod 13 by means of the spring 21 connected therewith, and held fixedly with respect to the sash 7.

By providing the indents 12 on the face of the flat rod 13, the slotted washer 16 may be varied in position to enable the adjustment of the length and therefore, the tension of the spring 21. If the slotted washer 16 is placed in a lower position with relation to the serrated flat rod 13, the spring 21 connected to the slotted washer .16, is lengthened and its tension is increased. In the case of placing the slotted washer 16 with respect to the serrated flat rod 13 in a higher position, the spring 21 is thereby shortened and the tension is decreased. Through these means, the sash balance 8 may be used with various sashes of different weight, as well as with sashes varying in length.

The installation of the novel weather strip and the sash balance is easily accomplished. The sash balance 8 is afiixed to the bottom rail 4 of the sash 7 by means of the bracket arm 3. The sash balance 8 is placed in position with respect to the weather strip 30, the spring21 following the track 37, entering the chamber 36 formed by the housing channel and secured in place, along with the weather strip 30, by means of drive nail 41in through the screw hole 42. The weather strip 30 is then fitted tangent to the jamb 5 of the window casing. The bracket arm 3, attached to the serrated flat rod 13, is affixed to the bottom rail 4 of sash 7, before which, the grooves 38 of the sash 7 are placed in position with respect to the tracks 37 and the housing channels 35, as are the sides of the sash 7 to the track portions 32 and 35.

Any adjustment in'regard to the length of the spring 21 or the tension is cared for by means of the indents 12 or grooves located on the flat rod 13 and the slotted washer 16.

The weather strip 30 and the sash balance 8 in combination resiliently hold the sashes 7 in any lowered or raised position by means of the spring 21 counterbalancing the weight of the sashes 7, provide an effective sealing device, and by means of the bow-like construction of the weather strip 30 the sashes 7 are maintained in a stable position to prevent rattling, yet free to yield to a lateral movement of the sash.

The weather strip 30 and the sash balance 8 in combination are placed on one side of the Window casing. A spiral type sash balance, as in US. Patents Nos. 2,580,705, 2,384,980, 2,370,867, or 2,365,156 may be used on the opposite side in combination with the weather strip and sash balance as stated above.

It is thus apparent, that in addition to the sash holding and weathersealing function of the present invention, a better appearance is obtained, as well as a sash balance that may be used in coordination with a spiral type sash balance.

Although only one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that other modifications and changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, therefore, only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination weather strip and sash balance, a weather strip including a pair of sash-receiving track portions and a parting strip formed therein; a housing channel formed in said weather strip in each sash-receiving portion, each said housing channel extending a portion of the way from the top of said weather strip towards the bottom, raised flanges forming a second pair of tracks formed in each said track portion and extending downwardly from the bottom end of each said housing channel to the bottom of said weather strip, said housing channels and said second pair of tracks forming a guideway for the movement of a sash balance therein, each said sash balance comprising a spring fixedly fastened in each top portion of each said housing channel and extending downwardly therethrough in said second pair of tracks, the bottom end of each said spring being connected with a sash by adjustable means comprising a slotted washer fastened to said spring and an adjustment rod fastened to the sash and adapted to be engaged with the slot in said washer for adjusting the tension of said spring.

2. In a combination weather strip and sash balance according to claim 1; said spring being fastened in the top portion of said housing channel by means holding the bottom of said weather strip in a free, floating position with respect to said jamb.

3. In combination with a window casing and a sash mounted therein having agroove extending substantially the length of the sash in its lateral edges; an elongated weather strip body including a pair of sashreceiving track portions formed therein, means for securing said weather strip body to a casing at the upper end of said weather strip body sothat the bottom of said strip is free floating, a housing channel extending downwardly a portion of the way from the top of said weather strip body formed in each sash-receiving track portion in said weather strip body, raised flanges extending downwardly from the bottom of said housing channel, said housing channel and said flanges forming a guideway, a sash balance disposed in said guideway comprising a spring fastened at its upper end to said means and connected at its lower end by a second means to the bottom of a slidable sash.

4. The combination of claim 3, said second means comprising a washer and a slot therein fastened to the bottom of said spring, a rod having indents therein adapted to engage with the slot in said washer, said rod being connected to the bottom of a slidable sash and extending through the slot in said washer, whereby one said sash balance to a window sash comprising a washer having a slot therein, fastened to the lower end of said spring, a rod having indents therein and being disposed through the slot in said washer, the bottom end of said rod being fastened to a sash, one of said indents being adapted to engage with the slot in said washer for adjusting the tension of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,581 Van Brunt May 18, 1920 2,158,963 Gossen May 16, 1939 2,257,051 Gossen Sept. 23, 1941 2,284,438 Lundgren May 26, 1942 2.722.723 Mears Nov. 8. 1955 

